Caliendo is professor of political science at North Central College,where he focuses his research in the areas of political communication and political psychology. He is author of the forthcoming book Inequality in America: Race, Poverty and Fulfilling Democracy’s Promise (Westview). His book Teachers Matter (Praeger 2000) examines the effects of political socialization on attitudes toward American political institutions.

Caliendo’s research has been presented at major conferences and published in the Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics, the Journal of Black Studies, and the Journal of Research and Science Teaching. He has authored or coauthored numerous entries in specialized encyclopedias such as Polling in America, The Encyclopedia of Human Rights, and The Encyclopedia of Political Communication. He is a regular analyst for international, national, state and local media outlets.